Marketplace Morning Report

(Markets Edition) The GOP tax overhaul will decrease the corporate tax rate, which proponents of the bill have argued is much lower in other countries. But China recently announced foreign firms will not have to pay taxes on their earnings. We'll examine whether this move will make U.S. companies want to stay in China. Afterwards, we'll discuss the tax bill's effects on Puerto Rico — now income from patents and other intellectual property on the island will be considered foreign income. Then, we'll look at how one Dallas nonprofit is training people who are visually impaired to work with textiles.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service ... South Korea makes up just 2 percent of the global economy – but South Koreans account for 20 percent of all bitcoin transactions. The country’s obsession with the crypto-currency has led government authorities to threaten that they might shut down bitcoin exchanges – leading to yet another price swing in an already volatile year. Then, nearly a decade on from the financial crisis, countries around the world are rebounding. But in some places the scars still run deep – nowhere more so than the Italian island of Sardinia, which has taken radical steps to insulate itself from the next crisis by returning to a 4,000 year old form of finance.

(Markets Edition) With homeowners in high-tax states and counties rushing to pre-pay their 2018 property taxes, we'll take a look at which areas are actually encouraging this behavior. Afterwards, we'll talk to Diane Swonk , CEO of DS Economics in Chicago, about consumer confidence levels and how retailers have been doing this holiday season, and then we'll cap off today's show by discussing news that the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is proposing to roll back some of the safety rules it created.

(U.S. Edition) People have been rushing to pre-pay property taxes in some states before the GOP's new tax bill goes into effect. But the IRS is saying not so fast. We'll chat with Roberton Williams from the Tax Policy Center about what you actually need in order to prepay your taxes. Afterwards, we'll talk with Kenneth Mapp, governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, about how the territory has been doing in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. He tells us which services are now available, and the work left to repair the power grid, schools and hospitals.

(Markets Edition) Commodities are pushing up global markets today, and prices for metals like aluminum, copper and zinc are up. On today's show, we'll chat with Joe Deaux — a metals and mining report for Bloomberg — about the reason for this surge in metal prices. Afterwards, we'll look at the struggles that cannabis advertisers still face even in markets where marijuana is legal.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service ... Throughout the year, we've been reporting on increasing efforts by both the U.S. and the international community to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions by punishing the country economically. Now, the U.S. has placed sanctions on two North Korean officials for their role in the country's missile program.  Afterwards, former President Barack Obama sat down with Prince Harry for a rare interview. He issued a warning about the dangers of social media echo chambers. Then, the shift away from using cash in day-to-day transactions has been gathering pace in places from sub-Saharan Africa to Sweden — but nowhere is the transformation happening faster than in China. A trip to the eastern city of Hanzhou reveals just how quickly China's cashless revolution is occurring.

(U.S. Edition) Tax day may not be for another few months, but there are some homeowners who have decided to pre-pay their taxes now that the GOP overhaul has gone through. On today's show, we'll look at why those who own homes in states and counties with high property taxes are scrambling. Afterwards, we'll discuss why retailers are actually kind of happy with customers who decide to return their online purchases in-store. Plus: We talk to the mayor of Naples, Florida, about how the region has been doing in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, and whether it's worth it to have beachfront property.

(Markets Edition) The global economy is shifting, with countries once considered "developing economies" replacing western ones as the strongest players in the marketplace. We'll take a look at which countries are moving up in the rankings — and which ones are moving down. Afterwards, we'll discuss how a pilot shortage in the U.S. means more lucrative opportunities for those who want to become one.

(U.S. Edition) Now that Christmas is over, we'll talk about spending habits this holiday season. Retail growth was strong, which analysts say was driven by low- and middle-income Americans. Afterwards, we'll discuss what a wave in minimum wage hikes next year could mean for local economies. Plus, a conversation with Marvin Odum — chief recovery officer for Houston, Texas — on what recovery is looking like for the city.

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service ...Which country in the world is the most generous? Hint: it's not the U.S. We take a look at global giving trends and find out which countries were more inclined to donate in 2017. Then, what do you do in a country where nearly half the population is below the age of 15,  but where the majority of young people don't have access to "formal" jobs? That's the situation plaguing the east African country of Mozambique. In the country's capital, Maputo, Armadura Gym — which is run by young men who used to live on the street — is attempting an innovative and inspirational model that is looking to give some of the hardest-to-hire young people their first job.